Advanced Practice Providers At Legacy Announce Plan To Strike Starting Dec. 2 (Photo) - 11/21/25
Nurse practitioners, physician associates, certified nurse midwives, and clinical nurse specialists treat patients in Legacy hospitals and clinics.
(Portland, Ore.) — At a press conference this morning, advanced practice providers (APPs) from Legacy Health—represented by the Oregon Nurses Association (ONA)—announced that they delivered a formal strike notice to Legacy executives. The notice informs management that 135 APPs across the Legacy Health system will begin an open-ended strike on December 2, 2025, at 6 a.m., if Legacy fails to reach a fair contract agreement.
Legacy continues to lag behind what Kaiser and OHSU offer their APPs in total compensation and will struggle to recruit and retain top frontline caregivers unless it makes meaningful movement at the bargaining table. Many Legacy APPs aren’t even compensated for the administrative work they’re required to complete, a situation that underscores the deep inequities they are fighting to fix.
The APPs include nurse practitioners (NPs), physician associates (PAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who provide direct patient care in Legacy hospitals and clinics throughout the Portland Metro Area and in SW Washington.
“We are striking because we want our exceptional healthcare providers to continue caring for our community. Our team has made Legacy a place patients can trust. With Legacy’s current contract offer, my colleagues will leave for better-paying, better-supported jobs elsewhere—leaving patients with fewer, less experienced providers when they need us the most,” said Leigh Warsing, PA and ONA bargaining team member at Legacy. “Legacy management needs to return to the table and negotiate a fair contract that retains experienced providers and protects the safety of every patient who comes through our doors.”
ONA has offered to meet with Legacy every day leading up to the strike, but Legacy has refused to meet. APPs remain ready, willing, and able to negotiate around the clock to reach an agreement and avert a strike.
Reasons for the strike:
- The current proposal from Legacy keeps APP wages well behind APPs at other area health systems.
- APPs are routinely working unpaid hours to deliver patient care, complete required administrative tasks, and during patient hand-offs.
- APPs should be paid for holidays and weather closures and not have to use their annual paid leave (which should be used for vacation/personal needs) to make their paychecks whole.
APPs at Legacy formed their union in December 2023 and have been in contract negotiations since May 2024.
Healthcare workers have provided Legacy more than 10-days advance notice of the strike to give Legacy time to make alternate arrangements for patients and determine what services they will continue to provide.
Legacy Refuses to Continue Bargaining
On Thursday, November 20, Legacy executives and their hired law firm walked away from bargaining, telling APPs they would not continue negotiations because of the strike notice. APPs have offered to meet every day to reach an agreement and avoid a strike.
Picket lines will be established at Legacy Good Samaritan and Legacy Emanuel hospitals from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 2. Starting December 3, picket lines will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. This is an open-ended strike.
Community members can visit OregonRN.org/RespectAPPs to learn more about ongoing negotiations, sign a community petition in support of the APPs, and stay informed about the impact of the potential strike.
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